Android 15 will be released in 2024, but many phones will not receive an update. What does this mean for me as a user? Am I at risk because I am using an old Android phone?
Google introduces a new version of its Android operating system every year. In 2024, the release of Android 15 is just around the corner, but not every phone and tablet will receive an update. This is already certain.
But what does it actually mean to use an outdated Android? Am I at risk if I am not using Android 15?
Updates for Android close important security gaps
Why are there security updates at all? Security patches are always a race between security experts and hackers. Hackers want to exploit vulnerabilities in a system, and security experts try to close these gaps before the flaws can be exploited. Therefore, there is typically no such thing as an absolutely secure system.
The same applies to Android: If hackers find a vulnerability in the system, it will eventually be closed in Android, and you will receive an update for your phone. Google releases updates approximately every 6 weeks, but it is up to each manufacturer to decide whether and how quickly the security patches are released.
Why do many manufacturers eventually stop offering updates? All major manufacturers like Google, Samsung, or Xiaomi now offer security updates over several years:
- Google promises at least five years of updates for the Pixel 6.
- Samsung promises 4 to 7 Android updates and 5 to 7 years of security patches for its Galaxy S, Note, Z, and Fold series.
- Xiaomi, the top 3 behind Samsung and Apple, offers 3 years of Android updates and 4 years of security updates for its models.
The problem, however, is that these updates require work and, above all, time. Especially for older models, support is eventually discontinued because the user base becomes smaller.
Good to know: Google is now outsourcing important components of the Android system to the PlayStore. These include apps like “Android System WebView” or “Health Services,” which are internal software of Android. This aims to allow Android to provide certain areas with updates faster without having to wait for a manufacturer’s update cycle.
Older Android versions still receive important updates
How safe is it to use an old Android phone? Fundamentally, it also depends on what you do with your phone. If you connect to many open Wi-Fi systems, your risk is higher if you use an outdated Android model. The same applies if you like to use apps from third-party stores outside the official Play Store.
But even with the “Google Play Store,” you are not completely safe. Fake apps regularly make it to the Play Store, attempting to push malware onto you, and Google only bans them after a few weeks. In the worst case, you may already be infected with malware.
Christoph Hebeisen, director of the security company Lookout, explained to the English-language magazine Cnet.com:
We do not consider it safe to operate a device that does not receive security patches. Critical security vulnerabilities become publicly known every few weeks or months, and as soon as a system is no longer supported, users who continue to use it become vulnerable to the exploitation of known weaknesses.
Older Android versions receive updates: It is important to know that even if your phone does not get an update to Android 15, you will generally continue to receive updates for Android 14 and also for older versions (12 and 13). Because the version is not discontinued overnight. Therefore, with an older Android version, you will still generally receive important updates.
If your Android version number is old but your phone still receives monthly security updates, then using the device is still very safe.
Old and cheap models are often a problem: Especially very inexpensive devices often only offer outdated Android, and in many cases, there are no more updates available. But can you really manage your daily life with a phone for less than 100 euros? MyMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann purchased the budget Blackview A60 Pro and reveals what it is worth and what it isn’t: I tested a phone for 100 euros – Is it really as bad as imagined?
